Footwear with retractable members

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide footwear that may be easily adapted for increased traction and/or recreation. Embodiments may include a chamber having a flexible wall, and retractable members coupled to the flexible wall such that when fluid is inserted into the chamber, the retractable members are extended from the bottom of a shoe and when fluid is removed from the chamber the retractable members are retracted into the bottom of a shoe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/768,062, filed Jun. 25, 2007,which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/053,590, filed Feb. 7, 2005, entitled“Convertible Traction Shoes,” the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of footwear,and, more specifically, to improvements applied to footwear that resultin a wider range of footwear utility.

BACKGROUND

Specialty footwear is currently available for a variety of sports andother activities. For example, shoes used in some sports include cleatsprotruding from the bottom of the soles to improve traction and balance.Roller skates include wheels affixed to the sole of a shoe, allowing theuser to glide along a flat surface such as pavement. While mobility,balance and traction may be enhanced by the specialty footwear currentlyavailable, the utility of such footwear is extremely limited.Non-specialty footwear is much more versatile but is less than optimalfor users on slick surfaces or for users who wish to alter their mode oftransport.

While footwear users have the option of bringing specialty footwear foruse as needed, a better option is to increase the versatility of thefootwear. Currently, there are shoes having a wheel fixed to the sole ofthe shoe in a constant position. While these shoes allow a user toutilize the wheel, they are cumbersome and potentially dangerous, as thewheels are constantly positioned to engage the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by thefollowing detailed description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of exampleand not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional side view of a cleated shoe in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a sole portion of the shoe of FIG. 1 as seen fromview lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the sole portion of FIG. 2 taken on view lines 3-3of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are retracted and expanded views respectively of thesole portion of FIGS. 2 and 3 as seen from view lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A to 5H illustrate variations of expandable cleats for aconvertible shoe in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 6-8 are views similar to FIGS. 1-3 showing alternate fluid sourcesin accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate cross-sectional views of a shoe in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A-10E2 illustrate interchangeable retractable member modules foruse in the practice of various embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate views of a convertible traction shoe inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a fluid pressurizing device in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view footwear in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a bottom perspective view of footwear in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a partial perspective view of a system in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIG. 16A illustrates a retractable member assembly in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 16B illustrates an exploded view of various components of theretractable member assembly of FIG. 16A in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 16C illustrates a retractable member assembly with the retractablemember in the extended position in accordance with various embodiments;and

FIG. 16D illustrates a retractable member assembly with the retractablemember in the retracted position in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shownby way of illustration embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilizedand structural or logical changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detaileddescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofembodiments in accordance with the present invention is defined by theappended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations inturn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments ofthe present invention; however, the order of description should not beconstrued to imply that these operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down,back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used tofacilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict theapplication of embodiments of the present invention.

The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, maybe used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended assynonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected”may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physicalor electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two ormore elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However,“coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in directcontact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with eachother.

For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” means Aor B. For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “Aand/or B” means “(A), (B), or (A and B).” For the purposes of thedescription, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means“(A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).” Forthe purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means “(B)or (AB),” that is, A is an optional element.

The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “inembodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same ordifferent embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,”“having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of thepresent invention, are synonymous.

While reference is made herein to a “shoe,” this term is used in thebroadest sense, and is intended to encompass all forms of footwear,including, but not limited to shoes, boots, sandals, and the like. Theterm “retractable member,” along with its derivatives, is defined forthe purposes of this description as a protrusion (e.g., a cleat, ball,wheel, nodule, plate, bar, etc.) that may be extended and retracted fromthe sole of a shoe. The term “retractable member module,” along with itsderivatives, is used herein to describe any retractable member that isreleasably coupled to a shoe and/or any part thereof. A retractablemember module may be coupled to any part of a convertible shoe by anyone of a variety of coupling mechanisms, and those coupling mechanismsidentified herein are not intended to restrict the application of othermechanisms adapted for use with embodiments of the present invention.

In various embodiments of the present invention, methods, apparatuses,and systems for convertible footwear are provided. Various embodimentsof the present invention include a shoe that may provide both theversatility of nonspecialty footwear and the improved traction, balance,and/or maneuverability offered by specialty footwear; and may do so witha minimum of additional materials for the user to transport. Inaddition, the footwear may help to selectively prevent damage to floorsand other surfaces from the retractable members. Further, embodiments ofthe present invention may provide increased traction and/or increasedease of mobility on a variety of surfaces (e.g., ice, mud, dirt, grass,wood, etc.). Some embodiments provide alternative methods of controllingthe extension/retraction of a retractable member. Embodiments may alsoutilize a variety of mechanisms to force the movement of media or fluidto and from channels and/or chambers in order to help control extensionand retraction of the retractable members; and some embodiments mayinclude alternative options for powering such mechanisms. Variousembodiments may also include interchangeable retractable member modules.

In various embodiments, a convertible shoe may include: a shoe body anda sole, said sole having a bottom surface, the bottom surface beingadapted for engaging a support surface, such as the ground; a fluiddirecting channel and/or chamber formed in said shoe sole; a designatedpocket or opening in the tread underlying at least a part of said fluidchannel and/or chamber; a flexible wall portion between said fluidchannel and/or chamber and the pocket; and a retractable member coupledto and extended away from said flexible wall portion and residing insaid pocket when in the retracted position. As used herein, a pocket maybe any opening in the sole that partially or completely surrounds theretractable member; and the opening may be of varying sizes andconfigurations (e.g., clearance between the retractable member and thewall of the opening may vary) depending on the application. In variousembodiments, the footwear may also include a fluid source connection tosaid fluid directing channel and/or chamber for introducing andreleasing pressurized fluid to and from the fluid directing channeland/or chamber. A variety of media or fluids may be used in connectionwith embodiments of the present invention, including gases such as airand CO₂, as well as liquids, such as hydraulic fluid, self-sealingviscous materials and the like.

In various embodiments, the flexible wall portion may be responsive tothe pressurized fluid such that directing fluid into the channels and/orchambers may cause the flexible wall portion to extend toward the bottomsurface and/or into the pocket, which in turn may cause the retractablemember to extend out of the pocket and into engagement with said supportsurface. Likewise, when the fluid is removed from the channel, theretractable member may retract into the pocket. In various embodiments,the retraction may be due in whole or in part to the resiliency of theflexible wall portion, and in other embodiments, such retraction may bedue in whole, part, or in combination with evacuation of the fluid fromthe air channel.

In the operation of various embodiments, fluid may be forced into thefluid directing channel, which may in turn exert fluid pressure on theflexible wall to cause the wall to expand generally outward therebyurging the retractable member outward. In various embodiments, the fluidchannels may be coupled to chambers that may be larger or ofgeometrically different configuration, and the flexible wall portion ofthe chambers may expand and contract in response to the fluid pressure.In various embodiments, pressure may be exerted on one or moreindividual members coupled individually (see, e.g., FIGS. 1-8 and 13) orin multiples to one or more flexible walls in the channels and/orchambers (see, e.g., FIGS. 11A and 11B). In other embodiments, pressuremay be exerted on one or more plates having one or more protrudingmembers coupled thereto (see, e.g., FIGS. 9A and 9B, and 13, and16A-16D). In such embodiments, fluid pressure exerted may cause movementof the plate and thus cause extension of one or more of the protrudingmembers past the bottom surface of the sole. In various embodiments,removal of fluid from the fluid channel may decrease pressure on one ormore plates/retractable members, thereby allowing the protruding membersto retract with retractive movement of the plate.

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 through 4B which illustrate an exampleembodiment of a convertible shoe in accordance with various embodiments.In FIG. 1 is shown a shoe having an upper body portion 10. The upperbody portion can take any of a wide variety of forms but as shown is ashoe of the type worn for sporting events such as golf, football, soccerand the like, i.e., sports played on turf, or of the type worn foroutdoor and indoor use as well as in areas where outdoor use can involvewalking or running on ice, dirt, or other surfaces.

The upper body portion 10 may include a foot wrap 12 for the sides andupper foot and an upper sole portion 14, which may be made of, forexample, a semi-flexible/semi-stiff leather or molded rubber that isshaped to the contour of a wearer's foot bottom. The portion of the shoein which various features of the present invention are incorporated isthe lower sole portion 16. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower soleportion 16 may include a groove or fluid directing channel 18 disposedin the sole. At spaced locations along the channel 18 one or morechambers or pockets 20 may be disposed. (See also FIGS. 4A and 4B.)Affixed to the apex of the pocket, as particularly seen in FIGS. 4A and4B, is a retractable member 22 which can be of the same material as thesole portion 16, e.g., a hard rubber retractable member, or of adifferent material, e.g., a metal spike, cleat retractable member,wheel, ball, or other protruding member. Disposed between pockets 20 andthe air directing channel is a flexible wall portion 24 that mayresiliently urge withdrawal of the retractable members 22 into thepockets 20 as viewed in FIG. 4A.

In various embodiments, the bottom sole portion 16 may include aninlet/outlet valve 26. While the valve 26 is shown to be at anintermediate position, i.e., between the toe and heel of the shoe, thevalve location may be positioned as desired. In various embodiments,inlet/outlet valve 26 may facilitate the introduction and release ofpressurized fluid, such as air, into and out of the channel 18. With thechannel 18 pressurized, the resiliency of the flexible wall portion 24is overcome and the pockets 20 may be reconfigured to force theretractable members 22 from the retracted position of FIG. 4A to theextended position of FIG. 4B.

It will be appreciated that the shoe having the retractable memberswithdrawn as seen in FIG. 4A can be worn to walk on hard surfaces, e.g.,typically used for indoor flooring. When the shoe is to be used, e.g.,on icy sidewalks, for sports on grass, dirt or turf, for recreation, orother activities, the user can simply introduce fluid under pressure,e.g., from a bicycle pump, CO₂ container, other fluid driver andreservoir coupled to the shoe, or any of a number of other fluid sourcesto cause the protruding retractable members 22 (in the illustratedexample, spikes) to be extended as viewed in FIG. 4B and therebyenhance, for example, traction.

Whereas, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4B utilize fluiddirecting channel, pockets, retractable members and an exterior fluidsource, there are many variations that may be used. For example,reference is made to FIGS. 5A to 5H which illustrate some variations inthe configuration of the retractable members 22, i.e., 22 a-22 d shownin retracted and extended conditions. The valve 26 can be designed toaccept a tire pump valve, for example, and the valve may be providedwith a valve stem which can be pressed inwardly to release the airpressure, e.g., in the same manner as a bicycle. In various embodiments,a fluid source, such as a small hand pump or replaceable CO₂ cartridgemay be embedded in the heel portion of the bottom sole, e.g., see FIGS.6-8. In one embodiment, a CO₂ cartridge 30 is provided with a three-wayvalve 32 that can be actuated by hand to insert and release air into andfrom the channel 18.

In various embodiments, the channel 18 (or in some cases a chamber) maybe incorporated into the upper sole portion, a lower sole, and/or theentire combination of upper and lower sole portion may be molded as asingle layer with channel 18, e.g., in the form of a collapsible tubeembedded in the mold. In other embodiments, the retractable member 22can be a single rib or member that extends the length of the channel andextends from a continuous elongated pocket formed in the bottom surfaceof the bottom sole portion. And in other embodiments, the chamber may beconstructed of a multipiece assembly that can be molded into the sole(see, e.g., FIGS. 15 and 16A-16D).

In various embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the fluiddirecting channels 18 may have expanded portions referred to herein aschambers 21 that span a larger portion of the sole, and wherein the solealso may include a larger pocket 20 running substantially the length ofthe bladder and/or air channel. A lower chamber wall 23 may be aflexible wall portion that is adapted to expand upon the addition ofpressurized fluid into the chamber 21. The other walls of the chambermay be appropriately reinforced so as to resist deformation of thechamber in directions other than towards the underlying pocket. Coupledto the lower chamber wall 23, retractable members 22 may extend out ofthe pocket 20 and into engagement with the ground upon expansion of thechamber 21. In various embodiments, a protective plate or material maycompletely or partially cover the lower chamber wall 23 (not shown) toassist in avoiding puncture from external debris. In other embodiments,the exposed portion of the chamber may be puncture resistant or linedwith a puncture resistant material (e.g., Kevlar).

FIG. 9A illustrates footwear having retractable members in accordancewith various embodiments, and in particular showing a retractable memberretaining plate and a retractable member retaining plate housing withthe members being in a retracted state. FIG. 9B illustrates the footwearof FIG. 9A with the member retaining plate, and thus the membersillustrated in an extended position.

In various embodiments, one or more retractable members 22 may becoupled to one or more movable plates 36 that are positioned within ahousing 34 disposed in the sole portion 16. An upper chamber 40 may bedisposed in an upper portion of the housing 34. Plate 36 may be disposedwithin housing 34 and adapted to move there within (in some embodimentsthe lower area may be similar to the aforementioned and describedpocket). In one embodiment, fluid may be forced into an upper chamber40, above plate 36, thereby causing the upper chamber 40 to expand andforce the plate 36 downward, thereby decreasing the volume of lower area38. One or more retractable members 22 may thus be urged to protrudegenerally past the bottom surface of sole portion 16. When the fluid isevacuated from the upper chamber 40, the removal of the fluid may causethe plate to rise, thereby retracting the retractable members into thelower area and sole.

In various embodiments, a resilient member 42 may be disposed betweenand/or within the plate and upper chamber 40 and/or the lower area 38.Resilient member 42 may be configured to act on the plate 36 so as tohelp urge the plate upward and help retract the retractable members 22upon evacuation of the fluid from the upper chamber 40. In oneembodiment, the plate 36 may rest on a compressible resilient member 42,which may be compressed by the plate when fluid is introduced into theupper chamber 40. The resiliency of the member 42 may exert an upwardpressure on the plate 36, to thereby help retract the retractablemembers 22 when the fluid is removed from the upper chamber 40. Invarious embodiments, the resilient member 42 may include elastomericmaterial, springs, polymers, and the like. In various other embodiments,the biasing member may be disposed on the chamber side of the plate andhelp urge retraction of the retractable members.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of footwear having a fluid reservoir andpump or driving source in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention, which may cause extension and retraction of retractablemembers. In various embodiments a fluid reservoir 52 may be coupled tothe footwear 12 (either removably or integrally). A driving source 54,such as a pump, may be coupled to reservoir 52, and adapted to forcefluid into and out of reservoir 52. The reservoir 52 may be coupled viapassage 50 to a chamber 56 and/or a fluid directing channel 18. Invarious embodiments, the fluid directing channel 18 may be incommunication with, coupled to, and/or adjacent to a pocket and flexiblewall portion, a plate and chamber configuration, or other means ofmoving the retractable members. As illustrated by way of example in FIG.12, fluid directing channel 18 may be in communication with expandablechambers 56, which may include a flexible wall portion 58 that isadapted to expand outward upon forced injection of fluid into thechambers 56. A retractable member 22 (e.g., a multidirectional ball asillustrated, or other member such as a spike, low durometer nub, etc.)may be forced upward and/or downward in a direction 59, thereby forcingthe retractable member to extend and retract relative to the bottomsurface of the sole portion 16.

The driving source in accordance with various embodiments may be a fluidpump such as a compressor, a positive displacement pump, a centrifugalpump, a kinetic pump, etc., which upon activation may drive the fluid toand from the reservoir 52. In other embodiments, the driving source 54may be an auger, syringe, squeeze ball, or other pump configurationadapted to allow a user to selectively force fluid to and from thereservoir. The driving source, such as a pump, may be powered by anelectric motor, manual force, etc. Where the driving source operates offan electrical current, the current may be supplied by, for example, arechargeable battery (e.g., solar, A/C source, etc.). In someembodiments, a rechargeable battery may be recharged by motion, such asby the rotation of a retractable wheel module. In an embodiment, anuclear (beta voltaic) battery may power a driving source. In otherembodiments, the driving source may be powered by one or more otherpower sources such as a capacitor, an ultra capacitor, a piezoelectricpower source, an energy cell, etc. In various embodiments, a drivingsource may be powered by more than one source (such as by a rechargeablebattery and manual input). In various embodiments, no fluid reservoir ispresent and fluid may be supplied from an external source, such as byway of a syringe or compressed canister. In other embodiments, a manualforce, such as a lever (see, e.g., FIG. 13) may be used to force fluidto and from the reservoir. In one embodiment, manual force is used toturn an actuator causing a screw-like action, for example, that forcesfluid from a reservoir into a fluid channel.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of a shoe including anextendable and retractable plate in accordance with various embodiments.Plate 36 may be disposed within a pocket 20, which may be a recessedportion within the tread of the sole portion 16. A chamber 18 may bedisposed behind plate 36, such that introduction and removal of fluidfrom the chamber 18 may cause extension and retraction of the plate 36.In various embodiments, only the lower portion of the chamber may beadapted to move in response to the introduction and removal of fluidinto the chamber. Fluid may be directed to a chamber in a different partof the shoe via channels 52. In one embodiment, the plate 36 may beintegrated as part of the flexible material of sole portion 16.

In various embodiments, the plate 36 may be disposed relative to thesole such that inward and outward movement (extending and retractingmovement), may occur without undue infiltration of material between theplate and the sole or into the fluid directing channels (see, e.g.,discussion regarding FIGS. 15 and 16A-16D). In various embodiments, theplate may be at least partially integrated and/or covered by the solematerial and recessed from the portion of the sole tread face thatengages the ground when retracted or extended. As fluid is injected andretracted from the pod, the sole material may flex allowing the plate tomove inward and outward as desired without allowing material to breachthe pod/channel or area behind the plate.

In various embodiments, a pump 54 may be coupled to a reservoir 55containing a fluid media such as air, viscous liquid, etc. A pumpactuator 53 may be coupled to the pump 54 and the shoe in such a waythat movement of the pump actuator 53 will cause the pump 54 to forcethe media into or out of the reservoir 55, and thus into and out ofchamber 18. In one embodiment, the actuator may be so coupled to thepump such that multiple pumps may incrementally force fluid into and outof the chambers, thereby incrementally increasing and/or decreasing theamount of retraction. Yet in other embodiments, a single movement of theactuator may sufficiently move enough media to cause extension andretraction of the plate as desired. In various embodiments, the actuatormay take a variety of forms and be coupled to the shoe and/or the pumpin a variety of ways (e.g., pivotally, slidingly, etc.). In variousembodiments, the pump may be a push-button pump mechanism with aseparate release and/or a reverse pumping configuration.

FIG. 15 illustrates an isometric view of components of an embodiment ofa retractable member system having a front and rear pods that illustratean example of various components that may facilitate extension andretraction of the retractable members. FIG. 16 illustrates an explodedview of the pods illustrated in FIG. 15 in accordance with variousembodiments, assembly 100 may be coupled to each other via channels 118and further coupled to a reservoir 155 containing a fluid. A pump 154 orother actuation system may be coupled to the reservoir 155 and adaptedto force fluid to and from assemblies 100 and/or channels 118 toselectively cause extension and retraction of the retractable members122. Pump 154 may include an actuator 153 and a release 157 forpressurizing and depressurizing the assembly 100.

FIG. 16A illustrates a single assembly of FIG. 15 in accordance withvarious embodiments. FIG. 16B illustrates an exploded view of variouscomponents of the assembly 100 in accordance with various embodiments.FIG. 16C illustrates assembly 100 with the retractable member 122 in theextended position. FIG. 16D illustrates assembly 100 with theretractable member 122 in the retracted position. In variousembodiments, Assembly 100 may include several components, includingretractable member carrying plate 136 and a chamber 121 having aflexible lower portion 123 that flexes in response to fluid being forcedinto and out of chamber 121. Assembly 100 may also include a chamberhousing 130 that has a rigid upper top 132 coupled thereto. A seal 133may be disposed between upper top 132 and chamber housing 130.

In various embodiments, a movable member 134 may be disposed within thechamber 121 and adapted for movement generally in an axial direction 131with respect to the chamber 121 and chamber housing 130. In variousembodiments, plate 136 may be coupled to the flexible wall portion 123and movable member 134, such that movement of the movable member 134 maycause movement of the flexible wall portion 123 and the plate 136. Soconfigured, as fluid is forced into chamber 121 via channel 118, thefluid forces displacement of the movable member 134, thus causing theplate 136 and attached retractable members 122 to move to the extendedposition (as illustrated in FIG. 16C). Likewise, as fluid is removedfrom the chamber 121, the movable member and associated components willbe urged to a retracted position (as illustrated in FIG. 16D).

In various embodiments, movable member 134 may be sized to seat intochamber 121 in such a fashion that lateral movement of the movablemember 134, and thus plate 136 is resisted. In one embodiment, a firstportion 139 of the movable member 134 may have a taper that when in theextended position, is seated in a corresponding receiving taper portionof the chamber housing 130 such that lateral movement is resisted. Invarious other embodiments, other seating features may be used to resistlateral movement of the movable member in relation to the chamberhousing 130.

In various embodiments, a protective cover 141 may be coupled to chamberhousing 130 and serve to resisting infiltration of debris into the maybe coupled to Cover, Seal seats, etc. In one embodiment, protectivecover 141 may have a plate opening 142 sized slightly smaller than plate136 such that plate 136 may rest and/or engage the edge of the opening142. In various embodiments, the protective cover may also have atapered portion that may serve to align the plate 136 with the opening142.

FIGS. 10A-10E2 illustrate perspective views of several differentretractable member modules that may be coupled to flexible wall members,plates, and/or other configurations in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. In various embodiments, the retractable membersmodules may be configured to be removably coupled, thus allowing a userto selectively fit the footwear with a retractable member to suit thedesired situation. In various embodiments, one or more retractablemember modules may be removably coupled to the flexible wall portion(directly or via plates, for example), such that expansion of theflexible wall portion will cause the selected retractable member moduleto extend past the bottom of the tread portion of the sole and engagethe surface. In another embodiment, the one or more retractable membermodules may be removably coupled to the plate and adapted for extensionand retraction as previously discussed.

While a multitude of retractable members may be used with theretractable member modules, FIGS. 10A-10E2 illustrate examples ofremovable modules in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 10Aillustrates a retractable member module that includes a generally freerolling or multidirectional ball 70, which may allow a user to slidetheir feet in any direction. Coupler 60 may be coupled to ball 70 andadapted for engagement with a receiving coupler 61 which may be coupledto the flexible wall, plate, etc. of the shoe, and which would allowremovable coupling for the retractable member module to the shoe. FIG.10B illustrates a retractable member module that includes aunidirectional rolling wheel 72, which may be coupled to a shoe viacoupler 60. FIG. 10C illustrates a retractable member module thatincludes a pointed spike 74, which may be coupled to a shoe via coupler60. FIG. 10D illustrates a retractable member module that includes ablunt end 76, which may be coupled to a shoe via coupler 60.

FIGS. 10E1 and 10E2 illustrate a retractable member module that includesa spring-loaded member 78, which may be coupled to a shoe via coupler60. Spring-loaded member 78 may react to a wearer's weight in a similarfashion to a pogo stick, and may include a spring, elastomer, or otherbiasing element to provide the responsive springing action.Spring-loaded member 78 may be coupled to flexible wall portion 24 offluid directing channel 18 via coupler 60 and receiving coupler 61. FIG.10E 1 illustrates the spring-loaded member 78 in an extended positionand FIG. 10E 2 shows the spring-loaded member in a retracted position.

In various embodiments, the retractable member modules may beinterchangeable with one or more other retractable member modules suchas studs, spikes, posts, wheels, rollers, balls, blades, springs,treads, suction cups, bladders, etc. Retractable member modules may beindividually interchangeable in some embodiments, while in otherembodiments two or more retractable member modules may be coupled suchthat they must be removed together. One or more retractable membermodules may be mechanically coupled to one or more plates and/or to oneor more flexible wall portions by use of a variety of couplingarrangements including a spiraling circumferential thread, a series offlanges (as illustrated), a magnet, and/or by another mechanicalfastener.

Various embodiments may include a variety of fluids used to causeactuation of the retractable members, including, but not limited toliquids and gasses, air, water, organic solvent, gel, hydraulic fluid,etc. In an embodiment, a self-sealing fluid that cures or hardens uponcontact with ambient air or water may be used as the fluid. In anotherembodiment, a self-sealing fluid that plugs a leak may be used as thefluid. In an embodiment, one, two or more different fluids may be usedsimultaneously and/or consecutively. In such embodiments if the flexiblewall portion is punctured, the puncture may seal automatically, therebyprolonging the useful life and versatility of the shoe.

In various embodiments, the retractable member carrying plate may bemade of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as metal, ceramic, wood,synthetic fiber, plastic, polymer, carbon fiber, etc. In variousembodiments, a plate may include one or more retractable members and/orsites adapted to accommodate the coupling of one or more retractablemembers thereto, and arranged in a variety of patterns such as aroundthe edge of the plate, in rows, in concentric circles, etc. In variousembodiments the footwear may include one or more plates on the front,sides and/or back areas of the sole, with one or more retractablemembers coupled to each plate.

In various embodiments, fluid reservoir and a driving source may belocated within separate or a single housing, and/or may be removablycoupled to the shoe (e.g., see FIG. 12). In some embodiments the drivingunit and/or reservoir may be mounted on the shoe in a variety oflocations, such as on the rear of the heel portion (see, e.g., FIGS. 13,14, and 15), on one or both sides of the shoe body, on one or both sidesof the heel portion, on the front of the shoe, etc. In variousembodiments, the pump may be coupled to an external port adapted toallow coupling to an energy source for recharging purposes. In otherembodiments, a reservoir and/or driver may be handheld and/or worn in alocation other than on the convertible shoe.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described hereinfor purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety ofalternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated toachieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shownand described without departing from the scope of the present invention.Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments inaccordance with the present invention may be implemented in a very widevariety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptationsor variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it ismanifestly intended that embodiments in accordance with the presentinvention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A convertible shoe comprising: a shoe body and a sole, the solehaving a bottom surface adapted to engage a support surface; a fluidreservoir coupled to the shoe; a chamber at least partially disposed inthe sole and coupled to the reservoir, the chamber having a flexiblewall portion; one or more pockets underlying the chamber; a retractablemember coupled to and extended from the flexible wall portion andresiding in the pocket; and a fluid driving source coupled to thereservoir to force fluid to and from the chamber in order to extend andretract the flexible wall portion with respect to the pocket and tothereby extend and retract the retractable member with respect to thepocket.
 2. The convertible shoe of claim 1 wherein upon the retractablemember is retracted by removal of the fluid from the fluid directingchannel and/or the resiliency of the flexible wall portion.
 3. Theconvertible shoe of claim 1 wherein the pocket extends along asubstantial length of the fluid directing channel.
 4. The convertibleshoe of claim 1 wherein the retractable member is an integral part ofthe flexible wall.
 5. The convertible shoe of claim 1 wherein theretractable member is removably coupled to the flexible wall portion. 6.The convertible shoe of claim 1 wherein the retractable member is aselected one of wheels, balls, studs, and biasing members.
 7. Theconvertible shoe of claim 1, further comprising a retractable membermodule that carries the retractable member, and wherein the retractablemember module allows the retractable member to removably couple to theflexible wall portion.
 8. The convertible shoe of claim 1 whereinmultiple pockets having multiple flexible wall portions are positionedalong a portion of the length of the chamber, and multiple retractablemembers project from multiple ones of the multiple pockets.
 9. Theconvertible shoe of claim 1 further comprising a retractable membercarrying plate coupled to the flexible wall portion such that expansionof the flexible wall causes movement of the plate.
 10. The convertibleshoe of claim 9, further comprising a debris shield to resistpenetration of debris behind the plate.
 11. The convertible shoe asdefined in claim 1 wherein the fluid upon exposure to a leak generallyseals the leak to prevent fluid loss.
 12. A convertible shoe comprising:a shoe body and a sole having a bottom surface adapted for engaging asupport surface; a chamber disposed in the sole and coupled to the fluidchannel, the chamber having a flexible wall portion; a plate coupled tothe flexible wall; a fluid source coupled to the chamber for introducingand removing pressurized fluid to and from the chamber.
 13. Theconvertible shoe as defined in claim 12 further including a compressibleresilient member disposed in the sole coupled to the plate, theresilient member adapted to help urge movement of the plate to aretracted position.
 14. The convertible shoe as defined in claim 12,further comprising retractable members coupled to the plate.
 15. Theconvertible shoe as defined in claim 12 wherein the plate is at leastpartially coated with a lower durometer material than the sole.
 16. Theconvertible shoe as defined in claim 12 wherein the plate is integratedwith the material of the sole.
 17. The convertible shoe as defined inclaim 12, wherein the chamber includes: a chamber housing; a flexiblemembrane coupled to the chamber housing; a generally rigid chamber topplate; and a movable member disposed in the chamber, the movable membercoupled to the plate and adapted to move axially relative to the chamberhousing with introduction and removal of the fluid to and from thechamber.
 18. The convertible shoe as defined in claim 17, furthercomprising a protective cover coupled to the chamber housing, theprotective cover having an opening that is generally smaller than aperiphery of the plate.
 19. The convertible shoe as defined in claim 17,wherein the movable member includes a seating feature that coordinateswith the chamber housing to help restrict lateral movement of themovable member when in an extended position.
 20. The convertible shoe asdefined in claim 12, further comprising a driving source coupled to thereservoir to force fluid between the chamber and the reservoir.
 21. Asystem for directing fluid into and out of a chamber disposed in thesole of a shoe to cause extension and retraction of retractable members,comprising: a fluid source; a fluid driving source coupled to the fluidsource; and wherein actuation of the driving source forces fluid fromthe fluid source into the fluid directing channel.
 22. The system ofclaim 21 wherein the fluid source is a reservoir, and wherein thereservoir and the fluid driving source are at least partially disposedwithin the sole of the shoe.
 23. The system of claim 21 wherein thefluid driving source is a fluid pump.
 24. The system of claim 23 whereinthe pump is manually powered.
 25. The system of claim 23 wherein thepump is powered by a driver and power source.
 26. The system of claim 25wherein the power source is powered by a rechargeable battery.